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Monday, April 6, 2015

Drawstring Backpack Tutorial

Hi all! Today I'm going to show you how to make a super easy and fun drawstring backpack! There are lots of tutorials out there, and I didn't reinvent the wheel or anything ;) but I think my version is the perfect size and weight to handle anything I need to shove in it.

I made mine using Sanibel, a new fabric line by Gina Martin for Moda.

Let's get started! Here are the supplies you will need:

a half yard of outer fabric (more if you want to add a pocket)
a half yard of lining
fabric
(2) 1/4" grommets (and installation tools)
4 yards of paracord, cut into 2 equal lengths. (If you've never used
paracord, when you cut it, you need to melt the ends with a lighter to
stop it from fraying.)

From each of your two fabrics,
you will cut (2) 15" x 18" rectangles. (If you are piecing fabric, just
make sure you have (2) 15" x 18" rectangles) From your lining fabric,
you
also need to cut (4) 3" x 14" rectangles. When sewing, all seam
allowances are 1/4". If you are adding a divided pocket, you will also need (2) 7" x 15" pieces (you could adjust this to make a deeper pocket. For example, 9" x 15") I used a print and a white. Sew them together along a 15" side. Press. Top stitch the sewn edge.

Pair up two of the 3" x 14"
rectangles, right sides together. Sew around three of the sides,
starting with a short edge. One of the long edges will be left open.
Clip your corners, and turn right side out. I use a chopstick to poke
out my corners. Iron flat, and then iron in half, lengthwise. Repeat
with the other pair.

Center your folded piece to the
short edge of your outer fabric rectangle. The raw edges need to line up with the bag's raw edges.You will have about an inch
on each side of the folded piece. This is the top of your bag, and will become the drawstring casing. If your fabric is directional, make sure
you have the print running the right direction. Pin and baste in place.
Repeat with the other side.

If
you're adding a pocket, let's attach it. Center it along the bottom
edge of one of your outer pieces, with the stitched edge at the top.
Stitch down the center to create the two pockets.

I
used the print itself as a stitching guide. This pocket is deep enough
for a pair of sunglasses or a small tube of sunscreen :) If you wanted,
you could add pockets to both sides, but you would have to increase the
size of your grommet to accommodate the extra thickness of fabric.

Place your outer pieces, right sides together, and pin. You will stitch around the
two long edges and the bottom edge. Leave the edge with the tabs open. Clip corners and turn right side
out. Press. This is the outside of your bag.

Take your lining pieces and place them
right sides together. You will sew around the two long sides and across
the bottom, BUT you will need to leave a 3 inch opening in the center of
the short edge. This is for turning your bag right side out. Clip
corners but do not turn right side out.

Place your
outer bag inside of the lining right sides together, and match up side seams. Pin in place,
and pin all the way around the top. Stitch together, and then turn right
side out through the hole in your lining. Press and sew the turning hole shut. (you can do this by hand or machine)

Now
it's time for grommets. Measure in about an inch from the bottom
corner. Mark the spot by circling inside one of your grommets with a
pen. I use an Exacto knife to cut a small x. Push your grommet through
the hole, top it with the other piece, and hammer it on.

Next we do the drawstrings! Use a safety pin and thread through one casing, and
back through the opposite casing. Pull both ends through the grommet and
tie a knot. Repeat with the second cord, going the opposite direction.

All finished! Thrown in a beach towel and your favorite magazine and hit the pool!

I've made several of these - we have one in a soccer ball print for all our shin guards and soccer socks. You could coordinate these for all your kiddo's activities! (I'm still looking for a cool wrestling print to make one for the boys' headgear and shoes) Hope you enjoyed it, and if you have any questions just leave me a comment!